Well-hook.



A. SOSS.

WELL HOOK. APPLICATION IILED D110. 13, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR SOSS, OF BEE, NEBRASKA.

WELL-HOOK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Soss, citizen of the United States, residingat Bee, in the county of Seward and State of Nebraska, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in W ell-Hooks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to grappling devices and refers more especially toappliances adapted to be used in wells for the purpose of extractingpipes, augers and other tools of a similar character that have becomebroken or disconnected from their operative attachments.

The chief objects of the improvements which form the subject matter ofthis application for patent are :to provide a simple and efficient clampor hook for the purpose stated; to furnish a device of this characterthat can be adjusted to operate eifectively in well casings or tubes ofdifferent diameters, and to arrange the jaws of the grapple so that theymay be relatively adjusted to correspond with the size of the artlcle tobe seized.

I accomplish the desired results by means of the appliance illustratedin the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this application, thedetails of construction being disclosed in the following views Figure 1is a sectional view of a well tube or casing, within which is shown myimproved well hook in position for gripping a tool rod, or pipe; Fig. 2is an enlarged elevation of the hook detached from the rope, and Fig. 3is a top plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the details of the drawing,

the numeral 5 designates a well tube or cas-' ing, within which myimproved grappling device 6 is suspended by a rope or cable 7, whichextends above the ground surface represented at 8. The said devicecomprises a vertical bar 9, having its upper end formed with an eye 10to facilitate the attachment of the operating cable 7. This lift bar 9may be of any convenient length, and either round or square, in crosssection, the latter being the preferred form and the one shown in thedrawing. Attached to the lower end of the said lift bar is an arm 11,furnished with a number of bolt holes 12 at one end,

and secured by a shouldered bolt 13 which passes through oneof the saidholes 12 and a hole in the lower end of the bar 9. The purpose of usinga bolt with a shoulder at Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 13, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Serial No. 532,800.

this point is to permit the said arm to swing vertically thereon so asto assume various angles with the said bar 9. The outer end of the arm11 is provided with a jaw 14 extending transversely, and having one endturned at a right angle to form a bearing flange 15.

Arranged opposite to the straight jaw 14 is a cooperating jaw 16 curvedat the end to form a hook 17, and bent at approximately a right angle at18 to form a shank or stem 19, which is clamped against the face of theflange 15 by a bolt 20, the stem and flange both being supplied withseveral bolt holes 21 to permit relative adjustment of the jaw and hook.The corners of the straight jaw 14 are chamfered as indicated at 22 toform a sharp angle or edge 23, which is preferably made of hardenedsteel.

WVhen in operative position the arm 11 and attached jaws should extendat approximately a right angle with the shank 9, and to yieldinglymaintain said arm in this relative position a coiled spring 24 isattached at one end to a hook 25, which passes diagonally through thebody of the bar 9 and has a threaded end for the application of a nut26, which will permit of adjustment of the hook to vary the springtension when required, and the other end of said spring is attached to alug or hook 27, projecting laterally from the said arm 11. When properlyarranged this arm will normally extend at substantially a right anglefrom the bar 9.

To use the device thus described as a grappling means the appliance islowered into the well by means of the rope, until the jaws of the toolare opposite some portion of the article to be grasped. Then the latteris a pipe, bar or auger, it will usually be lodged at some angle withthe vertical as shown at 28 in Fig. 1, and when the grapple has beenlowered to the desired position the supporting cable or rope is twistedin the proper direction so that the jaws 14 and 16 will sweep in acircle with the mouth forward as the shank or bar 9 turns on itsvertical axis, and by slightly raising and lowering the apparatus therequired position will be found to properly engage the pi e or red 28.As soon as the article to be ifted is fairly in the bight of the hook,the grapple is lifted by means of the rope 7, and the spring 24 willyield to the weight of the grasped object so that the arm 11 will beinclined downward at an angle and this will compel the jaws to bind 0nthe pipe, and cause the sharp edge 23 of the jaw 14 to bite into themetal and thus secure a firm grip to prevent end slip of the graspedarticle. It will be seen that by this arrange ment the heavier thearticle the more securely itwill be held, so that it may be lifted tothe surface without danger of becom ing dislodged by the contact of anyportion of the device or the grasped tool with the casing of the well,under ordinary circumstances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, is

1. In a grappling device, the combination with a lift bar, of a grippingmember pivoted on said bar, and means adapted to yieldingly support thegripping member at an angle with the said bar.

2. In a grappling device, the combination with a lift bar, of an armpivoted thereto and provided with a fixed jaw, a hooked jaw adjustablyattached to said fixed jaw, and a spring adapted to support the said armat an angle with the lift bar.

3. In a grappling device, the combination with a lift bar, of an armadjustably pivoted to the bar, a fixed jaw on said arm, said jaw havingan angular gripping face, a hooked jaw adjustably attached to said fixedjaw and cooperating therewith, and adjustable means for yieldinglysupporting the said arm relatively to the lift bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 7 in the presence of twowitnesses.

ARTHUR SOSS.

Witnesses:

HENRY PETERSEN, FRANK CUDA.

